Harriet Harman floated the idea of compulsory retirement at 65 being abolished today as she said the government had to do more to respond to the growing power and importance of the "wellderly".

The equality minister and deputy Labour leader said she wanted to see a "massive public policy change" that would make it easy for older people to carry on working. She also called for older workers to be given the right to work part-time.

In a speech to an Age UK conference, Harman said that there are already 1.3 million working people over the state pension age and that they are the fastest growing group in the labour market. In 20 years, half the adult population will be over 50, she said. "The change in the number of well older people demands a change in public policy. We have to understand that we now have a new cohort of well, active, healthy older people. We must recognise the emergence of the 'wellderly'," she said.

Harman also attacked broadcasters for valuing older male presenters for their experience and wisdom but not valuing older female presenters in the same way. And she was particularly critical of the way advertisers use airbrushing to improve the appearance of older women.

"Airbrushing is rooted in the sexist notion that the sexual attractiveness of a woman in the 'reproductive years' is the most important characteristic for a woman and which places no value on experience and wisdom in a woman," she said.

Four years ago the government changed the law to establish 65 as the default retirement age. Employers cannot force workers to retire earlier unless the job requires a lower retirement age. Workers were given the "right to request" to stay on beyond the age of 65, but firms can refuse.